| Adriane Weihing in a close play at first base. |
The Emery High Lady Spartans softball team finished their preseason games last week with two more wins and now will face their toughest region opponents in four home games this week in Castle Dale.
First, Emery defeated South Sevier in Castle Dale last Tuesday by a score of 7-1 and then the Spartans traveled south to Hurricane and defeated the Tigers 3-0 on Wednesday. Hurricane went to the 3-A title game last season and lost to Tooele in that game which is no big deal since Tooele is probably the best team in the state in any classification. This season Tooele has the best two pitchers in the state. Hurricane was also ranked number one last week by both Salt Lake newspapers.
This week Emery takes on the perennially tough Juan Diego and North Sanpete as the region season starts and the Spartans play doubleheaders against both teams on the Spartan field. Games will be held Tuesday and Thursday at 2:30pm.
Against the South Sevier Rams, Emery scored a single run in the first inning, another single run in the fourth inning and then after South Sevier scored their only run in the top of the fifth inning came back and scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to put the game away.
In the first inning, Adriane Weihing singled to left field, advanced to third base on a hit by Leslee Lake that the right fielder misplayed and scored on a single by Bailey Kay. In the fourth inning, Lake walked and scored on a double by Bailey Kay for Kay’s second RBI of the day.
For South Sevier, they put two of their three hits of the day together in the sixth inning and scored their only run.
In the sixth inning, Chelsea Skinner singled and Lake followed her on base as a pitch hit her. Bailey Kay followed up with another double off the left field fence and both runners scored. Kay scored on a pinch-hit single by Danavin Reed and Markette Tanner followed up by walking. Both runners would score as Keera Allred got to third base due to an error by the first baseman.
At Hurricane, Emery faced last season’s hot pitcher that did not play for Tooele and one who had not lost yet this season. Emery would score and take the lead right at the onset of the game. Jalee Jensen led off with a single to right field and Chelsea Skinner followed up with a single to left field. After Leslee Lake walked to load the bases, Bailey Kay followed up with a single and two Spartans would score. Whitney Allen would get hit by a pitch to load the bases before the Tigers could get the third out and Emery would miss a golden opportunity to score more runs.
In the second inning, Keera Allred singled followed by a Jalee Jensen double but neither would score as the next three batters hit balls to infielders. Another opportunity missed to pad the lead.
Emery would not have another base runner until the seventh inning. Danavin Reed pinch-hit again and in this game hit a ball off the centerfield fence for a double. Keera got her to third base with a sacrifice bunt and Reed would score on a hard hit to shortstop by Jalee Jensen.
Hurricane had three base runners in the game. A pitch hit a batter in the second inning and a Tiger would get a hit in the third inning and another in the fifth inning.
The Spartans are now 8-1 for the year but will face a test this week. Both region foes that are coming to town take this game seriously and are usually fighting for the region title. The Lady Spartans intend to have a say in the matter this season and are ready to take on both teams.